The rolling hitch is a

knot A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ' ...

(see also Magnus hitch) used to attach a rope to a rod, pole, or another rope. A simple

friction hitch A friction hitch is a kind of knot used to attach one rope to another in a way that is easily adjusted. These knots are commonly used in climbing as part of single-rope technique, doubled-rope technique and as "ratchets" to capture progress on a ...

, it is used for lengthwise pull along an object rather than at right angles. The rolling hitch is designed to resist lengthwise movement for only a single direction of pull.Clifford W. Ashley, ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), 292. A common usage while

sailing Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (land yacht) over a chosen cour ...

is for rigging a

stopper Stopper may refer to: * Bung, a plug used to stop the opening of a container ** Laboratory rubber stopper, a specific type of bung * Plug (sanitation), used to stop a drainage outlet * Defender (association football), in soccer (association footba ...

to relax the tension on a sheet so that a jammed

winch A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwise adjust the tension of a rope or wire rope (also called "cable" or "wire cable"). In its simplest form, it consists of a spool (or drum) attache ...

block Block or blocked may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Block programming, the result of a programming strategy in broadcasting * W242BX, a radio station licensed to Greenville, South Carolina, United States known as ''96.3 ...

can be cleared.

Naming

At the turn of the 19th century the knot now known as the "rolling hitch" was called the "Magnus hitch" or "Magner's hitch", and the name "rolling hitch" referred to two round turns and two half-hitches. In 1841

Richard Henry Dana, Jr. Richard Henry Dana Jr. (August 1, 1815 – January 6, 1882) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts, a descendant of a colonial family, who gained renown as the author of the classic American memoir ''Two Years Before the Mast''. ...

used the present-day names in his work ''The Seaman's Friend'', and subsequent authors have continued to use this terminology.Richard Henry Dana, Jr., ''The Seaman's Friend: A Treatise on Practical Seamanship, 14th Edition'' (Boston: Thomas Groom & Co., 1879; Dover Republication 1997), 49. There are two slightly different hitches commonly known by the name of "rolling hitch". ''

The Ashley Book of Knots ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' is an encyclopedia of knots written and illustrated by the American sailor and artist Clifford W. Ashley. First published in 1944, it was the culmination of over 11 years of work. The book contains 3,857 numbered en ...

'' identifies these two variations as "Rolling Hitch (1)" and "Rolling Hitch (2)" and numbers them #1734 and #1735 respectively. Despite the potential for confusion with the older usage, Ashley chose the name "Magnus Hitch" to refer to knot #1736, which is simply #1734 tied with the final hitch made in the opposite direction.Ashley, 298. Since two distinct variations of the rolling hitch are widely referred to by the same name, and Magnus hitch now may refer to a different knot than it used to, the use of Ashley reference numbers for these related hitches can eliminate ambiguity when required. These hitches are pictured at the right. When a rolling hitch or Magnus hitch is tied around the standing part of the rope to form an adjustable loop, it is often referred to as a

taut-line hitch The taut-line hitch is an adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension. It is useful when the length of a line will need to be periodically adjusted in order to maintain tension. It is made by tying a rolling hitch around the standing pa ...

or one of several other names, although some sources fail to differentiate by using a separate name. Ashley shows this use as #1855, #1856 and #1857.Ashley, 310.

Tying

Rolling Hitch (1) #1734

This version is preferred when attaching a rope to pole or rod.Nola Trower, ''Helmsman Guides: Knots and Ropework'' (Wiltshire: Helmsman Books, 1995), 31–32. It is effectively a

clove hitch The clove hitch is a type of knot. Along with the bowline and the sheet bend, it is often considered one of the most important knots. A clove hitch is two successive half-hitches around an object. It is most effectively used as a crossing knot ...

with an extra initial turn. # Start with a turn around the object. Bring the working end towards the direction of pull and between the standing part and the object. # Make another wrap around the object, completing a

round turn A turn is one round of rope on a pin or cleat, or one round of a coil. Turns can be made around various objects, through rings, or around the standing part of the rope itself or another rope. A turn also denotes a component of a knot. When the l ...

. The wraps of the round turn should progress towards the desired direction of pull. Bring the working end out over the standing part away from the direction of pull. # Complete with a

half hitch The half hitch is a simple overhand knot, where the working end of a line is brought over and under the standing part. Insecure on its own, it is a valuable component of a wide variety of useful and reliable hitches, bends, and knots. Two ...

, moving around the object in the same direction as the first turns, as for a clove hitch. # Dress by snugging the hitch around the object before applying load.

Rolling Hitch (2) #1735

This version is preferred when attaching rope to another rope. The first two turns create an awning hitch − a temporary hitch used by riggers when adjusting tent lines.Ashley, 304. These first two turns are merely a subtle rearrangement in the position of the turns of #1734. # Begin by making a turn around the object, bringing the working end back between the object and the standing part. Cross over the standing part away from the desired direction of pull. # Make a second turn that exactly follows the first, and hence also passes between the object and standing part and then crosses over the standing part, away from the direction of pull. ''Make sure the second turn "tucks" between the first turn and the standing part; that is what gives this version extra grip when made around another rope.'' # Finish with a

, moving around the object in the same direction as the first turns, as for a clove hitch. # Dress by snugging the hitch around the object before applying load.

Magnus Hitch #1736

This is tied exactly as #1734, but with the final hitch in the opposite direction. It can be more tricky to snug-up, since both lines emerge from the same side of the hitch, but it has less tendency to twist under load. # Start with a turn around the object. Bring the working end towards the direction of pull and between the standing part and the object. # Make another wrap around the object, completing a

. The wraps of the round turn should progress towards the desired direction of pull. Bring the working end out over the standing part away from the direction of pull. # Complete with a

, moving around the object in the ''opposite'' direction as the first turns, as for a

cow hitch The cow hitch, also called the lark's head, is a hitch knot used to attach a rope to an object. The cow hitch comprises a pair of half-hitches tied in opposing directions, as compared to the clove hitch in which the half-hitches are tied in th ...

. # Dress by snugging the hitch around the object before applying load.

Security

If the hitch is not made very snug before applying any strain, it will not tighten further under load. When hitching to another rope, Ashley and other sourcesBrion Toss, ''Chapman's Nautical Guides: Knots'' (New York: Hearst Marine Books, 1990), 30–32. suggest #1735 is more secure. Ashley also states that #1736 has less tendency to twist and marks it “best for the purpose”. Though effective for moderate loads, the rolling hitch cannot be depended on to hold fast under all conditions. Using stiff and slippery modern fiber ropes, the rolling hitch may be difficult to make hold at all. Friction hitches with additional wraps and more complex structure may provide more security. The August 2009 edition of ''Practical Sailor'' magazine tested various knots used for lengthwise tension applications, and came to the conclusion that when using modern synthetic rope the rolling hitch could not be regarded as secure. They recommended the

Icicle hitch An icicle hitch is a knot that is excellent for connecting to a post when weight is applied to an end running parallel to the post in a specific direction. This type of hitch will hold its place even when holding a substantial load on a smooth s ...

as a replacement.

References

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